Sunny in London

A Florida girl's guide to finding SUN and FUN

Top Food Travel Destinations for 2020

Where should you go for food travel in 2020? If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that in the past few months I have been to the top two food travel destinations in the world.

At the end of July you also saw on my social media that I spent two days at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival in London. Through my research and writing as a London food blogger, trips I have taken and exhibitions I have attended, I can make some fairly strong predictions for future food travel.

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The two panel discussions to which I was most looking forward at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival were the Culinary Trends and Food Hotspots.

To learn about the healthy food trends coming up in 2020, you can watch the Sunny News YouTube video below. I also included on the blog the ‘non-healthy’ information for Top Food Trends 2020.

But, let’s rewind a bit more.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- World Travel Market

For several years I have attended the Blogger Speed Networking event at World Travel Market. Below is my stand from 2015. At the most recent exhibition, I categorised myself as a food travel blogger.

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In the video I share two regions that were keen to talk to all food bloggers about promoting their destination. One I don’t mention is Serbia.

Mr Sunny, a former sound engineer and war cameraman for NBC News, was quite shocked when I returned home that do to say they were inquiring about organising press trips to promote food.

Cuisine in Serbia mixes Byzantine-Greek, Mediterranean, Turkish-Oriental and the cuisine of the Austro-Hungairan Empire. It also has Slavic influences. Perhaps since unlike the USA, Serbia bans production and import of GMO’s it will be able to make a big leap for being a world recognised cuisine?

In the past at WTM I have attended press conferences on increasing travel to Croatia. Now, several years later we are reading about the problems of overtourism in Croatia.

So, do you think this recent campaign Serbia to attract influencers to promote their cuisine will create the same buzz and attraction?

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- National Geographic Food Festival

Again, in the video I indicate some hot topics at the panel discussion. But, what I don’t include is one panel member’s indication that Ireland will achieve higher status for its cuisine.

If you research articles published by National Geographic, you will see Ireland as a top listing. They cite its craft beer and cider development, as well as fresh seafood. It also offers highly regional options.

If you are a food traveller, you know the top consideration in people’s profile when they travel is authenticity.

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One cuisine that I shrugged off when a panel member mentioned it is Mexican. Specifically, the discussion was about Baja California.

I just don’t see it happening. Growing up in Florida, I ate Mexican food regularly. There is a very high Hispanic population in the state. In many places it’s the only language spoken. So, you’re able to get amazing Mexican food right in Florida. Having been to Baja California, I don’t feel it offers anything that much different than authentically owned and operated Mexican restaurants in Florida.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- USA

In the video I mention the standard cities for American cuisine popularity. They will still thrive in 2020. However, there are two cities that I indicate are really under rated. Having lived in both, I can say it is easy to eat well in them, and they have regional dishes that are famous and often replicated poorly world wide.

One place I don’t mention is Miami. Between Cuban food, Mexican, seafood, and steakhouses frequented by celebrities, this city has a lot to offer a British traveller. You might say it’s a great way to get damn good plates from many international locations.

If you want to consider what to eat in Florida that is regional, you can watch this one too.

Or, if you visit my hometown, take my advice as a local.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- Mr Sunny

A rising star that Mr Sunny endorses is Beirut. He regularly says it would be the one city in which he would most want to return. We eat Lebanese food as often as we can in London. Its influences are Ottoman, Armenian, Palestinian, Syrian, French and Israeli.

He also said that he agreed with me when I indicated that Israel’s wine selection at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival were impressive.

We will both be cheering for Israel making a name for its cuisine in the future.

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Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- Final Thoughts

So, who is going to take the leap with me and vote for London for 2021?

After living here six years, I can honestly say that British cuisine is quite impressive. London’s food has come a long way since when I first lived here in the late 90’s. Steep competition (pun intended!) among themed afternoon teas makes them quite extraordinary compared to two decades ago.

Further, it seems Michelin starred restaurants and things to do in London for food are popping up everywhere.

What do you think, Sunny friends? Have you travelled to any of the above places and agree? What rising stars and old favourites do you have?

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Food Travel Related Blog Articles and YouTube

Chicama London Review- A Chelsea Brunch Experience with Smoked Beer Ice Cream

When we saw Smoked Beer Ice Cream on the Chicama menu, the ‘where to have brunch in Chelsea debate’ ended. Immediately. How could I deny Mr Sunny this opportunity to try a beer infused food?

As a London food blogger, I get invites often to try new seasonal menus, restaurant launches and other food related events. Since we live in North London most of our foodie trips to Central London are for these experiences organised via a restaurant’s public relations representatives. While we love these, it’s also nice to put the cameras aside and just enjoy good food with Mr Sunny.

That was our intent when we visited Chicama in Chelsea for brunch recently. But, everything changed as we walked up to the restaurant.

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Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- The Ambience

Turning the corner on the King’s Road and seeing Chicama London caused quick intrigue. The concept is a neighborhood restaurant and the design is inspired by Chicama beach in Northern Peru.

We had booked a table on the terrace, but due to the high wind advisory this day we requested to eat inside the restaurant. On a beautiful, sunny day in London I can see why Chicama would be a perfect spot.

All signs for what we wanted in our Sunday brunch together fell in to place as we stepped through the entrance. Nonetheless, the interior decor filled with shell pink tiles and soft pink marble is inviting and cheery. Mr Sunny and I loved the open kitchen plan. For many reasons, this works really well for this Chelsea restaurant.

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We booked our table online for 12pm. If you’re an avid Sunny reader, you know we like to go early to avoid crowds. It wasn’t until around 1pm that the restaurant tables began filling inside and on the terrace. If you planned to arrive anytime after we did, I would suggest making sure you have booked a table in advance.

While the exterior might have a slightly feminine vibe, we felt as a couple that the location is perfect for a posh brunch date or a girly get together.

Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- Unique Selling Points

Watching the kitchen staff prepare dishes tells a lot about Chicama’s story. Chicama in Chelsea is the second restaurant from the Pachamama Restaurant Group and opened with rave reviews in 2016. They chef formed a team that is from London’s best, most sought after restaurants. It shows!

The kitchen runs smoothly, quietly and systematically. Each staff member clearly knows their responsibilities and executes them with ninja like precision. Yet, the overriding vibe is calm and meticulously organised without fuss. While the decor might send the message that you are near a Peruvian beach, the staff’s approach to the overall success of your dining experience is no where near casual.

And then there’s the Smoked Beer Ice Cream. But, you need to wait just a bit more before I melt it on the blog for you.

Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- The Food

Chicama bills itself as a ‘seafood restaurant in Chelsea with a menu inspired by the coastal food of Peru and the bold-flavours of Peruvian cuisine’.

Mr Sunny had never tried Peruvian cuisine, to his knowledge. Introducing him to this new food experience was a treat, but I am not an expert in the cuisine. With the guidance of our server, we chose several items and waited with great anticipation. We hoped the food would be as great as the ambience!

  • Popped Corn Monkfish Cheeks (ají amarillo mayo)
  • Tuna Tostada (avocado jalapeño sauce, fried leeks, lime, radish)
  • Sweetcorn Pancake (crab, ají amarillo hollandaise, pickled chilli)
  • Blackened Octopus (confit potato, sundried tomato, cauliflower)
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In summary, each dish delighted us in different ways. The Monkfish was a nice starter, but the Tuna Tostadas blew us away. We should have ordered one each, because sharing proved a bit tense.

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My Sweetcorn Pancake arrived a bit before Mr Sunny’s octopus. Rather than battle with his salivating eyes, I agreed to give him a few bites. For those who might have trouble with a strong salt taste, they might want to pass on the Sweetcorn Pancake. While this usually does not appeal to me, I loved this dish! And so did Mr Sunny.

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He agreed to share his octopus, but I didn’t have more than a bite because the Sweetcorn Pancake is surprisingly filling.

Can you tell me your thoughts on Octopus, Sunny friends? When I posted these photos on my personal Facebook account my Florida friends expressed hesitation to try it. This seafood dish does not seem very exotic to me. How do you feel?

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We keenly saved room for the Smoked Beer Ice Cream. We both felt it offers a unique flavour and unique selling point for the restaurant. The honeycomb and beer caramel dissolves beautifully upon each bite. Although, now that we’ve checked it from the bucket list, we will focus on other menu items when we return.

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Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- The Prices

When you plan a brunch in Chelsea, one of the poshest neighborhoods in London, you don’t approach it as a budget food experience. Two tiny mimosas hit around £20 and Mr Sunny’s Peruvian beers went down his throat way too fast.

We had not anticipated spending £96 for a brunch together in London on a Sunday. But, we didn’t feel that Chicama was overpriced given how fab the food and ambiance it offers.

Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- Final Thoughts

Mr Sunny gives his first Peruvian experience two thumbs up. However, the opinion could unfairly be acquired because Chicama raises the bar so high.

We had no regrets about our brunch in Chelsea bill and look forward to returning to try Chicama’s dinner menu on another occasion.

I would love to know your brunch experiences in London. We researched quite a few of the ‘Best Places to Have Brunch in London’ articles online and found Chicama listed in many.

Have you been to Pachamama in either Marylebone or Shoreditch? What would you recommend to have in these restaurants?

And don’t forget to share your thoughts on eating Octopus!

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Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

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I will certainly add Chicama to the Restaurant Guide on it’s next update!

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Cooking Tips for Making a Full English Breakfast

Warning: if you don’t know what a Full English Breakfast is and you aren’t a fan of grease start to your day, look away!

This blog post is a contribution from my English husband, Mr Sunny, and he doesn’t hold back when it comes to cooking a proper English fry up in the morning. As foodie travellers, we love exploring local cuisine and often we try to replicate the recipes when we return. We bought waffle mixture after visiting Brussels, as well ravioli cutters, pasta dyed with squid ink and balsamic vinegar at Eataly while we were in Bologna.

However, it’s understandable that eating traditional English food is a majority of our life at home in London. Having enjoyed Mr Sunny’s full English breakfast on countless occasions, I thought it well overdue to share it with you on this foodie blog. If you’re American, you will find a few similarities to our traditional American diner breakfast. However, keep reading to see what’s different when you are eating a Full English Breakfast in London cooked by a proper Londoner.

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Full English Breakfast- Key Ingredients

A traditional full English breakfast means a morning plate served with sausage, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, black pudding, beans and fried bread. You will probably want to accompany it with ketchup or brown sauce too.

With regard to selecting ingredients, Mr Sunny has some key advice for your English fry up.

  • Purchase good quality ingredients. For example, visit your local butcher for sausage that is preferably a high meat content. Mr Sunny suggests plain pork, not Cumberland, Lincolnshire or pork and apple sausage.
  • Be generous with the vegetable oil and under no circumstances should you substitute it with olive oil. His direct quote is, ‘Olive oil makes eggs go green and tastes like sh*t.’
  • While you can get ‘streaky bacon’ in the UK, nearly every Full English Breakfast uses back bacon. He doesn’t used smoked, but he feels it depends on your taste preference.

Full English Breakfast- What You Need

You can see a big list of my foodie product recommendations on Amazon UK. For this recipe we suggest the items below.

You can also find the splatter screens and anti-fatigue mats on Amazon.com in the US.

Full English Breakfast- Cooking Tips and Order

We aren’t going to share a direct recipe with you, because a traditional Full English Breakfast only requires basic cooking skills. Plan 25-30 minutes cooking time This is really the time it takes to cook the sausage, so you’ll want to start with that first.

You could probably get away with one pan. But, if you want to make it exactly like Mr Sunny, he suggests two frying pans. The smaller one is for the fried bread and eggs.

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Here is the order for a successful English fry up.

  • Put a decent amount of vegetable oil in the large frying pan on medium heat and add your sausage links.
  • Next, place the black pudding in the same pan.
  • After 5 minutes, it should be time to put in the bacon.
  • While Mr Sunny is letting this food fry, he cuts mushrooms evenly. His preference is button or close cup.
  • With regard to a tomato, he chops it in halves and then cuts a cross on the rounded side with skin so they cook evenly. He also sprinkles them with salt before cooking.
  • In the smaller frying pan, Mr Sunny adds a generous amount of vegetable oil on medium heat. As you fry the bread, don’t be afraid to add more oil because the bread absorbs it. Because I was interrupting him a million times for video and still shots the day we cooked the one shown in the post, his bread ended up a little too fried.
  • After you remove the bread, you probably need to add more oil because again the bread will have soaked up most of it.
  • Crack the eggs and add them to the pan. You should move them around so they don’t stick to the pan. His bonus frying eggs tip is to use a teaspoon to flick oil an to the top of the eggs so you don’t get the ‘snotty’ bits. (I know every American just cringed at the sight of the word ‘snotty’ but that is the word they use here.)
  • Finally, Mr Sunny removes the food items from the pans and puts them on paper towels to remove excess grease before serving.
  • In our breakfast the day we filmed he didn’t include beans. But, if you want to make beans, you can remove them from the can and splash them with a dash of black pepper and Worcestershire sauce. He zaps them in the microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute, gives them a quick stir and throws them back in for another 15-20 seconds.
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Full English Breakfast- When Do English People Eat It?

Mr Sunny and generations of his family were born and bred in London. He says that the Full English Breakfast was more of a staple breakfast in the 50’s-60’s. To him, it seems like now this type of breakfast is reserved for lazy weekend mornings or holidays. But, he said if you go to your local caf in the morning, it’s common to see builders enjoying a hefty Full English Breakfast on a weekday.

If you visit London, you will likely have this option for breakfast at your hotel. If you holiday in Europe, you might see a Full English Breakfast on the menu. But, the standard European continental breakfast is different. As you can see in images from our Brussels hotel and Nice hotel in France, it features a selection of cold meats and cheeses, fresh fruit and pastries.

Hotel Metropole Brussels Review
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Full English Breakfast- Final Thoughts

If you would like to see a Full English Breakfast in the making, you can watch Mr Sunny cooking it below. We also go through tons of differences between an American breakfast and a British breakfast.

So if all that grease didn’t put you off and you made it to the end of this foodie blog post, what do you think of the Full English Breakfast? If you are English, is there anything you can suggest with regard to cooking tips? Do you do anything differently when making your Full English breakfast?

Americans, did you notice what was missing from the traditional English breakfast compared to what you find in America?

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Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

  • The Best Time to Visit London
  • What Airport to Choose for London
  • What You Must Know About British Food
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Related Food and Travel Blog Articles and Videos:

Eating Traditional British Food- What You Must Know

Does eating British traditional food make you nervous? Unless you are an international foodie or live in the UK, you might not know how good British food can be unless you research it a bit.

As an American travel and food blogger living in London for six years I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about London’s food scene. I’ve also travelled around Europe and the UK with my London-born husband and we share a lifelong passion for cooking.

Through these travels, masterclasses, menu launch parties and countless food reviews, there is so much I can share with you about eating traditional British food. It’s the cuisine we eat the most, obviously. And, by the time you devour all this information, I will have you begging for Spotted Dick.

Ha!Ha!Ha! Glad you made it through that sweet joke.

I remember the first time I saw ‘London’s Best Spotted Dick’ on a restaurant sign in the Soho neighbourhood of Central London. While Soho is a fab foodie neighbourhood, it also has a sordid history in London. So, I thought I had the context to jump to a dirty conclusion. Luckily, Mr Sunny quickly explained that it was a type of dessert here. He said you can even buy it in a can (or ‘tinnie’) in Marks and Spencer.

If you don’t have a British person to accompany you in the street or in restaurants, you might miss some great experiences due to lack of knowledge about eating traditional British food.

Let me help you.

If you understand European etiquette, what is different at a dinner table, what ingredients are common and what dishes are regional and traditional, you will really appreciate eating British food. Below I have some highlights to help you. At the end you can find out more about my free, downloadable Local’s Pocket Guide to London Restaurants.

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Traditional British Food- European Etiquette

Knowing some general rules about European dining etiquette, it makes things go more smoothly. This makes you look like you know what you are doing while you are visiting London.

Mr Sunny’s general rule to follow is, ‘Don’t use your fork like a shovel.’ That’s his impression of American dining habits. In the downloadable Guide to British food, I outline the differences in where the dinner fork is placed on a European table and why. You’ll also learn how to use it and your knife to signal you are finished with a meal.

Because, Sunny friends, there is nothing worse than leaving a half glass of wine and two bites of dessert on a plate when you run to the toilet and return to find it gone because the waiter thought you were finished!

As a side note, I would suggest not drinking too much during meals or when visiting pubs here. In comparison to the US, I find loos often located on another level up or down a staircase that spins and has very narrow steps. Good luck in heels, girls!

Also, did you know that you literally need to ask for your bill when you are visiting London or anywhere else in the UK? If you make the same mistake I did when I first lived here and wait for them to bring your check, you could be waiting a really long time to pay and leave a restaurant. And who has time for that on holiday?

Traditional British Food- Regional and Common Dishes

Most higher rated hotels will offer a continental breakfast and a Full English breakfast. However, if you are expecting a super sweet start, you will be disappointed. The English favour savoury in the morning. You can also say goodbye to the concept of flavoured coffee cream. Here, you just get milk. And scones are for the afternoon, Sunny friends!

Banana Chocolate Chip Scone Recipe from a Londoner

Yorkshire Pudding is available all over the UK. It’s much different and far better than anything you’ve had in the US. Trust me. However, if you want to visit where it originated, then it’s best to take a short day trip to York.

My Guide to British Food that’s part of the series of free, downloadable guides you get as a weekly email subscriber lists UK regions and their special dishes. Cornwall seems to be the champion because it has pasties, Cornish Ice Cream and Cornish Clotted Cream. You absolutely must try these items when you are here!

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Common items you can find everywhere in the UK include beef, batter and butter. And that’s just the start! You’ll find many main dishes start with batter. If you’re curious what I mean by batter, take a look at Mr Sunny’s Easy Toad in the Hole recipe.

Easy Toad in the Hole recipe from a beer loving London bloke

While it’s slightly more popular on the European continent, you will find butter slathered all a majority of the sandwiches here. And generally, cucumbers will replace pickles as a condiment too. Vegetables (referred to as ‘veg’ here) are crunchy, crisp and very fresh. Mr Sunny always says he can’t even taste tomatoes when he eats them in the US.

If you like luxury lunches, brunches and dinners, London has tons of Michelin starred food experiences for you. However, British people commonly joke about eating ‘beans on toast’ to save money. In reality, they eat this meal for breakfast, lunch and even dinner!

Guide to Eating Traditional British Food: Questions

I hope this better prepared you to avoid some awkward situations at restaurants. For lists of common foods (including their ingredients), food terms that are different in the UK (aubergine, courgette, pudding), grab the British Food Guide below. Being able to download it allows you to skip wrestling with a restaurant’s Wi-fi connection to search for a quick answer when you need to order something delicious to eat.

What questions do you have about eating traditional British food? Is there a certain dish that makes you curious? Don’t feel like you find anything good to eat? Let me help!

Don’t Miss What’s Happening in London!

Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. It features top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads (Best Time to Visit and Things to Do, London Airports, British Food) that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

For related foodie videos and blog posts:

Top Food Trends 2020- What You Must Know

Want to know what top food trends everyone will be talking about in 2020? The best chefs, culinary experts and food personalities united for two days at the inaugural National Geographic Traveller Food Festival in London to determine this at the end of July 2019.

As a press member, I attended cooking demonstrations, interviewed tourism board officials, met with chefs and cooking school personnel and listened to panel discussions- all about food during these two days. And it is clear there are some very big, new trends on the horizon.

Top Food Trends 2020- Health

The biggest theme for top food trends is… be healthy. This is showing its strength in many different forms. In the YouTube video I created at the food festival, I break down how we will see the healthy food trend infiltrating different areas of our lives. It also includes information about what Le Cordon Bleu, London’s top cooking school, plans to introduce that will prepare upcoming chefs for the healthier demands that we will see.

Top Food Trends 2020- Culinary Trends Panel Discussion

National Geographic Traveller Food Executive Editor Glen Mutel hosted the Culinary Trends discussion which featured four panel members. You can see them in the Healthy Food Trends video above.

Carolyn Boyd is a travel writer and editor specialising in French food and drink. She is author of Lonely Planet’s travel and recipe book France From the Source and writes regularly for National Geographic Traveller, National Geographic Traveller Food, The Times, The Guardian, The i and The Independent. Throughout the discussion she was the barometer for all food trends related to France.

Neil Coletta served as a professor of food studies at Boston University, as well as as the university’s assistant director of programs in food & wine, organising a year-round series of gastronomic lectures, demonstrations, classes and events with some of the top names in the food world. He is now the brand & product manager of food tours at Intrepid Group.

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Neil Davey has written regularly for The Guardian, Hello! and National Geographic Traveller (UK). As a broadcaster, Neil has worked for the likes of the BBC and Jazz FM.

Chef Reginald Ioos joined Le Cordon Bleu’s team of teaching cuisine chefs in 2013. He began his career at the five-star Sheraton Skyline London Heathrow Hotel. After four years, Chef Reginald moved to Brussels where he worked at the two Michelin-starred Sea Grill Restaurant and then onto the five-star Sheraton Hotel at Brussels Airport. In 2005 he returned to France where he later worked as a Private Chef to a former member of the French government.

Top Food Trends 2020- Key Ideas

Aside from the 5 key trends culinary trends related to health that the panel discussed and you can learn about in the video, there are other topics that will make headlines.

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Top Food Trends 2020- The Next Big Meat

While people have been eating goat for thousands of years, you will start to see a rise on its place on menus. Pairing with the healthy trend, goat is lean and very low in fat. Panel members indicated they felt the taste was very close to lamb.

In the spirit of eating healthy, I tried the Lotus Root Curry from Yaalu Yaalu stand, which has several locations in London. The goat curry looked very good. However, I just wasn’t ready to take the plunge.

How about you, Sunny friends? Have you eaten goat either to be healthy or just because you thought it sounded good? Am I the only one who is a little hesitant?

Top Food Trends 2020- Ditching Fine Dining

Something slightly surprising that they indicted during the panel discussion is the move away from fine dining. This is attributed to the advent of take away services like Deliveroo.

Panel members felt that the millennial generation’s casual approach to urgent requests has created a cultural shift toward a food trend of delivery items being the norm for dinner. This means they have less attention for fancier food and prefer to avoid the fuss and eat good, fast.

Top Food Trends 2020- The New Favourite

While all these predicted food trends fold in to a healthier package, there is one prediction that doesn’t fit in this eco-lifestyle box- Filopino cuisine.

One panel member indicated that one of the last treasures Anthony Bourdain left behind was the declaration that Filipino food is the ‘food of the world’. This was based on his experience with sisig, a dish from the Philippines. It is a local street food dish made from chopped parts of a pig.

Bourdain told CNN Philippines that the sizzling, crispy pork dish is “perfectly positioned to win the hearts and minds of the world as a whole.

“I think it’s the most likely to convince people abroad who have had no exposure to Filipino food to maybe look further and investigate further beyond sisig,” he said.

“I think that’s the one that’s gonna hook them.”

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Top Food Trends 2020- Final Thoughts

What do you think, Sunny friends? Have you tried sisig or any other Filipino dishes? Do you think you will be following any of these top food trends for 2020? Or maybe you already are living healthy and the food trends mentioned in the video are part of your everyday lifestyle?

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Waterfront Pub London Review

While there are many popular pubs in London by the river Thames, not all of them can boast about a swanky refurbishment. To beat the heat this week, Mr Sunny and I ventured to Wandsworth to see the Waterfront Pub’s new look, and we really enjoyed our afternoon there.

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It’s fair to say that if you are looking for a huge outdoor terrace to enjoy a cocktail, pint and live music, you don’t want to miss an experience at Waterfront Pub. This is especially true if you want to avoid the Central London crowds.

Keep in mind as you are reading that we visited the Waterfront Pub on a Monday nearly minutes after they opened. This is my preference when invited for a review because I can freely take photos without disturbing anyone. I can imagine that with this beautiful terrace, the Waterfront Pub gets pretty packed with locals on evenings and weekends.

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We don’t get to the Battersea area often because we live in North London. Young’s Pubs tend to be located mostly south of the river Thames. However, I do associate all of my Young’s Pubs experiences at their gastropubs with a colourful, airy decor and fantastic food. Our lunch at Waterfront Pub met this expectation.

Waterfront Pub London Review- Atmosphere

Visiting during a July heatwave meant we wanted a refreshing, relaxed atmosphere. The rich colour palette of the new upholstery was inviting, but we chose to eat outside. I can imagine this pub would be quite cosy during the winter. They might have trouble getting the locals to leave with this setup!

We also appreciated the ample space available to film a YouTube video about Riverside Pubs (with the Waterfront as the star, of course!) while we were there. In fact, when I was researching the Waterfront Pub before our visit, I was really impressed with the views and decor in the photos. I asked if I could film several Sunny News videos at the pub during our visit to maximise the opportunity in such a picturesque place.

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Waterfront Pub London Review- Food

Overall, we feel the food at Waterfront Pub is the most photogenic we have ever seen in London. Maybe it was the sun? Maybe it was the great space to film? Take a look at the video to see what I mean…

For Starters, Mr Sunny ordered the Grilled King Prawns, wild garlic and sourdough toast. I had the cauliflower with avocado mayo and beet dressing.

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waterfront-pub-london-review-food-youngs-pub

From the Mains, Mr Sunny loved the short rib of beef, harissa yoghurt, red slaw and sorrel gremolata. I watched the meat melted off the bone while he ate, and it wasn’t because of the heat outside, Sunny friends! He felt it was cooked perfectly.

The Young’s beer-battered cod with triple-cooked chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce was a delight! Foremost, it was the biggest piece of cod I have ever seen on a plate in London. To say it produced one hell of a panning shot in the video would be pretty punny. But- no joke- you should watch the video just to see the length of this thing!

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And, needless to say, the taste didn’t disappoint. I will spare you the shot of my empty plate because the carnage wasn’t Insta-worthy. But what finished fish ever is?

Waterfront Pub London Review- Final Thoughts

Our service and overall experience at Waterfront Pub London gets two thumbs up. We were a bit jealous of the locals in the surrounding area because the gastropub seems to tick all the boxes for people who seek space, good food and a great ambience. If we lived closer, I am sure we would pop in more often. It would be great to see the vibe at night.

They also had a huge ‘Gintastic’ festival there in July that I am guessing was really cool. And when I visited the Waterfront website it had information about offering 5 screens for people to watch the Rugby World Cup. If you live near the pub, I think it would be a good idea to keep an eye on their events, especially when it’s HOT in London!

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Chi Kitchen London Review

When I spotted the champagne bar at Chi Kitchen London on the ground floor of Debenham’s, I knew the night would be great. On a very sunny Friday evening in London, Mr. Sunny and I were thrilled to try this contemporary pan-Asian restaurant. We regularly watch Master Chef together when our schedule has us both home on the same evening. This means we couldn’t wait to dive in to the menu created by the show’s 2014 winner, Ping Coombes. She’s the group consultant chef for Chi Kitchen.

First, let’s start with the concept. Aside from the champagne bar, I sensed a truly welcoming spirit in the restaurant. I learned later the interior design probably had a hand in that. It’s inspired by the five elements: fire, water, wood, earth and metal. ‘Chi’ means energy in Chinese. The brand focuses on not only providing excellent food but also good energy.

This started with the Restaurant Supervisor, Angela, and stretched to every person and dish we encountered in our two hours at Chi Kitchen London. We immediately established a great dining relationship with her, as she greeted us quickly after we were seated. Because of this comfortable vibe, we let Angela decide what to bring us for our food during each phase of the meal.

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams

Aside from prosecco, the first thing to hit our table is the Mixed Seafood Dumpling shown above. Winner for both of us. Mr. Sunny and I gobbled up the tasty treat and were eager to see what else would arrive.

Next, we each had our own sushi selection. Since Mr Sunny doesn’t eat red peppers, I had the Chi Kitchen Roll. He enjoyed the California Crab Roll. We split the Tuna and Salmon Sashimi as equally as we could.

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams California Crab Roll

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams sashimi

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams sashimi

At this point I could sense a food coma coming and said to Mr Sunny that I was finished. ‘Sweetheart, I think we’ve only had the Starters,’ he replied.

‘Whaaaaaaaat?!’

He was right. Falling on to our table next was the Nasi Lemak, Sea Bass with Chilli and Lime, and Sambal Prawns.

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams Nasi lemak

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams sea bass chilli lime

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams sambal prawns

I have to admit, I didn’t quite understand my main course, the Nasi Lemak. I was told it was to be mixed all together and eaten, but that didn’t work for me. My habits are such that I eat one food at a time on my plate. Further, I save my favourite food for last. The British eating manners in which they mash everything on a fork upside down and then taste them all together has never been something I’ve adopted as an American living in London. It’s safe to say I didn’t give this dish a proper chance. I’ll own that.

It’s also safe to say that Mr. Sunny wasn’t too keen to share his food. He can own that later when his jeans don’t fit properly. 😉

True to our over abundant approach with food consumption, both of us made room for dessert. We had the Mango Creme Brulee and Chocolate Fondant with Salted Caramel Ice Cream. The chocolate dessert really makes a better movie than picture. It exploded when they poured on the secret ingredient and melted in to a delicious puddle which is hot and creamy. Had I known this was going to be such a spectacular visual, I would’ve been ready to catch it on video for you. I did, however, get quite a few clips of the dry ice smoking on our various other dishes. You’ll have to watch for them on the Sunny News YouTube channel.

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams

Chi Kitchen London and the Birmingham location have the Chinese symbol for fire representing the brand. The link between ‘Chi’ and fire plays on the way fire can be converted into energy. It is safe to say that this restaurant has certainly lit a fire for both of us. While we were on the train home, Mr. Sunny was already talking about going back for breakfast. Yes, they also have breakfast 😉

The open plan of the restaurant allows guests to watch chefs at work, preparing fresh sushi, sashimi and charcoal dishes from a robata grill.

Chi Kitchen London Review Debenhams

We were guests of Chi Kitchen London, but this didn’t affect our impression of the food or service.  It was clear to us why the pan-Asian location won the OpenTable 2016 Diners’ Choice Award. Everyone we met was extremely friendly and appeared to be that way with all guests in the restaurant. I don’t think people would normally order as much food as we had, and I wouldn’t suggest doing so either because it was a lot. But, all of it was great!

Mr. Sunny and I generally avoid Oxford Street as much as possible due to its high concentration of tourists who never appear to know where they’re going. However, after this experience I will certainly try to think of reasons to be around the area when I’m hungry! In fact, if we don’t make it there in the next month, I can certainly see us planning a stop in Chi Kitchen London the night we take in the Oxford Street Christmas lights.

Well done, Ping Coombes!

Chi Kitchen London Review Ping Coombes

Chi Kitchen Christmas Menu

Guess who’s back? Yep. Mr. Sunny and I hit Oxford Street and Regent Street to see the 2016 Christmas lights and made sure to visit Chi Kitchen again to absorb the new Christmas menu.

We reviewed the restaurant recently, and if you have been watching my tweets, you know I suggest that it is the place to visit during Christmas if you need a food and shopping stop combined in to one, as it is inside Debenham’s department store. Our experience was great. For general ambiance information, you can read about in my previous review. To summarise, it’s easy to find, and of course, in a spectacular location for Christmas shoppers.

When it comes to the food, we feel it is great for the value. The Pan-Asian twist on Christmas caught our attention. First to hit our table is the Chilli Prawns, Sweet Potato and Turkey Sliders.

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I quickly munched down all the sweet potato fries and gave Mr. Sunny the spicy opportunity to devour the chilli prawns. We both were a bit puzzled about the turkey sliders because they seem a bit unnatural for a pan-Asian menu. While they are good, the real show stealer is the blueberry mayo you see in the center. Wow- I never would’ve thought of combining these ingredients.

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For the Main course, we enjoyed the Grilled Turkey with a Kalamsansi Sauce, Choo Cher Prawns, and Yuzu Salmon.
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chi-kitchen-christmas-menu-2016

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It is accompanied by a lovely side of Egg friend rice with snow peas.

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For dessert, the Chi Kitchen Christmas Menu includes a Walnut Chocolate Brownie with Clotted Cream and Custard. We enjoyed this but felt a bigger dollop of clotted cream would work well.

chi-kitchen-christmas-menu-2016If you’ve watched my Afternoon Tea Etiquette Guide for London, you know why.

Chi Kitchen Christmas Menu- Final Thoughts

The ambiance, food quality and price definitely work. This menu will be offered from 21st November through December and is £28 per person.

Chi Kitchen opens for breakfast and serves delicious pan-Asian food throughout the day. The Group Consultant Chef is Ping Coombes, who is the 2014 Master Chef winner. 

We had the opportunity to see Angela, the Restaurant Supervisor on both visits and commend her for guaranteeing excellent service too.

Ping Coombes Breakfast Club at Chi Kitchen

Where’s the coolest culinary club in London? The Ping Coombes Breakfast Club at Chi Kitchen!

If you’ve been reading the blog the past few months, you know Mr. Sunny and I really fancy Chi Kitchen. We reviewed their full menu as well as their Christmas menu as soon as it launched. It’s safe to say we’re slightly stalking Ping Coombes.

Ok, ok, we’re not quite that bad. However, Mr. Sunny’s favourite television show is Master Chef, so he really does want to meet her, as Ping Coombes is the 2014 winner. He was totally gutted to learn about my invitation to have brunch with the super star chef because the event was happening on a day he had another commitment. But, as luck would have it, Ping Coombes wasn’t able to attend either due to becoming ill the day of the brunch.

The event was a private brunch for press to try the third occurrence of her Breakfast Club. In summary, twice a month on a Sunday she creates a special menu just for that day. The January dates haven’t been released yet, but it you visit the Chi Kitchen website or follow the restaurant on Twitter, you’ll be able to learn more.

Take a look at what she showcased at our brunch.

Ping Coombes Breakfast Club Menu:

We started on December 11th with a super delicious Banana Condensed Milk Shake and Malaysian Tea. I’m not a big fan of sweet drinks but these two tasty treats were just the right size to enjoy their sugary ingredients.

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Next, we were treated to the Malaysian Karipap, Mint and Cucumber Raita, which is fragrant potato curry encased in pastry- a popular snack in Malaysia. This was delicious, and the truth is I could have eaten two.

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Following this delight was Soup Kambing, a delicious and heart-warming lamb soup, flavoured with spices. You can see from the picture that I became so enthralled with the food that I forgot to take a picture until half way through devouring it!

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Finally, the last course of the Ping Coombes Breakfast Club brunch featured Chicken Char Siu Wonton Noodles. This is homemade chicken char siu, wonton noodles and homemade wontons served with pickled green chillies. Yum and Yum.

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Ping Coombes Breakfast Club: Final Thoughts

There you have it! The brunch is offered at £20 per person with unlimited Malaysian tea or coffee. For £25 you can add a glass of prosecco. You can read my full review of the Chi Kitchen’s menu to see all the other pan-Asian food they serve. And, if you’re out Christmas shopping on Oxford Street during the December 2016 holiday season, you want to pop in for their Christmas menu too.

My brunch at the Ping Coombs Breakfast Club was complimentary. This sure doesn’t affect my opinion of the restaurant, as it was the third time I visited. It was great to see Angela again, who is the restaurant supervisor. Her smile and energy truly represent the service and experience I have had for each meal.

In fact, I am so in favour of this pan-Asian location that I bought my mother-in-law the Ping Coombes cookbook, Malaysia: Recipes from a Family Kitchen. While she tries to replicate some of the wonderful food we’ve had at Chi Kitchen, I’m going to continue trying to convince Mr. Sunny to enter Master Chef. What do you think, Sunny friends?

Drink Maple Water- Fad, Fab or Faux?

Discovering Drink Maple Water during my holiday in America is certainly one of my trip highlights.

Have you heard of this hot new drink?

I actually had not, so when I received an email about trying it, I wasn’t sure what to do. Luckily, the email arrived while I was visiting my sister in Michigan (a state known for its ‘Pure Michigan’ slogan) so she immediately informed me about what I had been missing.

When I told her that I was asked to try Drink Maple water for its upcoming launch at Ocado in the UK, she was genuinely surprised I wasn’t in the loop already about this growing health trend. My sister indicated she’d read about it in quite a few fitness magazines, and I should absolutely give it a go.

Within a week, a package including several samples of Drink Maple Water arrived, and my fun testing it began.

Drink Maple Water UK

At this time, I was on the second leg of my trip, which included spending several weeks in Florida. I couldn’t wait to take this new drink to the beach with me. This is its Daytona Beach debut with me via a picture I snapped before a morning walk.

When I tasted it, I fell in love. Truly.

Drink Maple Water has been compared to the coconut water trend. I tried drinking coconut water a few years ago but never really bonded with it. However, my Drink Maple water experience is very different.

What does it taste like? Candy flavoured water. A huge reason why I like it better than coconut water is despite its fun taste, it has half the sugar of coconut water. Hence, it doesn’t taste nearly as sweet.

The silky smooth texture even further enhances its appeal for me. Quite honestly, I think it’s fantastic just on its own. This is the result of one of the recipes they sent me…

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I tossed in sunny straws and a rose around it to make the shake look prettier for its photo shoot. Let’s face it, kale doesn’t really win any ‘Most Photogenic Food’ contests.

This is what I put in a nutrient extractor (minus the lucuma powder because I didn’t have any)…

Drink Maple Water Kale, Banana Walnut Shake Ingredients:

2 handfuls baby kale
1 banana
1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 tbsp lucuma powder
1 cup DRINKmaple
1 cup ice cubes

I can’t say that the Drink Maple Water gave this shake an amazing taste difference compared to the other kale shakes I make, but the electrolyte jolt and manganese it adds are powerful. And, really, what could you possibly add to the flavour of kale that would have you doing cartwheels anyway? 😉

Next, I experimented with a smoothie recipe I found on the carton they sent.

Drink Maple Water Get Buzzed Smoothie:

1/4 cup cold brew coffee concentrate
1 cup DRINKmaple
1 tsp maca powder
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup cashews
1 cup ice

drink-maple-water-uk-coffee-smoothie-recipeAgain, I left out one ingredient (maca powder) because I didn’t have any.

I picked this smoothie because if you’ve ever been to Florida during August, you know it’s simply sweltering. Between the ridiculous humidity during hurricane season and the 90º Fahrenheit temperatures, my one French Press a day morning caffeine ritual is tough to manage. A cold coffee drink instead sounded so delicious.

This one totally rocks! To my American friends, I will say it reminded me of pancakes with a very light coffee taste. While I had anticipated a very sugary sip, I was pleasantly surprised.

Drink Maple Water Highlights:

– The water comes straight from organic maple trees in North America
– It’s 100% natural and has nothing added
– It’s low in calories
– It has 46 nutrients

In the UK, it’s available at Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Partridges, Wholefoods & Planet Organic, and Ocado.

So, regarding the headline for this drink… I will say it’s fab! We’re smart enough now to know that no drink is an elixir to life on its own. However, if you want a water that’s silky smooth with a lot less sugar than other drinks on the market, I fully endorse Drink Maple Water as an excellent choice. Let me know your thoughts when you try it!

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